Read me: On a Kindle, it’s a pain to get to the home screen. With a book open, tap the top of the screen > back arrow > Home. From the Kindle store, hit the X icon > Home. FYI, if your Kindle is old, look for a house icon (top left of the screen) or even a physical home button.
10 things that are illegal to throw away — How to safely dispose of them instead
We’ve long been conditioned to separate our recyclables from regular trash and sort plastics, paper and more. But some items don’t belong in your recycle bin or your trashcan.
Many items you use every day have their own methods of safe disposal. Here are some everyday things and their proper way of disposal.
1. Household batteries
Batteries can be broken down into two broad categories: Single-use and rechargeable. Read on for examples of each and links to recycling or waste disposal resources.
Disposable
- Standard alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, 9 volts) that power your remote control, flashlight, clocks and other common household items can usually be thrown away in the trash. But check with local battery recyclers or state solid waste authorities to be safe.
- Button cell or coin batteries, which you’ll find in calculators, watches, hearing aids and car key fobs, can contain silver and mercury and should not be thrown away in the trash. They can be brought to battery recyclers or participating retailers that provide battery takeback services.
Rechargeable
- Lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries are most commonly found in cellphones, laptops, tablets, digital cameras, power tools and smart toys. These batteries should never be tossed in the trash or recycle bin. They must be taken to separate recycling or household hazardous waste (HHW) collection centers.
- Small sealed lead acid batteries are found in emergency devices, security systems, mobility scooters and other special-use items. These also need to be taken to special disposal centers.
To find more recycling and disposal information, go to this resource page at Earth911. Simply select the type of battery from the left drop-down menu, enter your ZIP code and you’ll get local solutions. Note that stores like Staples, Home Depot and Best Buy have battery dropoff programs.
2. Car batteries
Car batteries contain lead and acid, a severe environmental risk to humans and animals.
If you replace your battery at an auto shop, they should take the old one and dispose of it for you. This is the law in some jurisdictions and applies to retailers who sell car batteries, even if they don’t sell you one or install one for you.
5 hidden Google Assistant tricks for your Android
Virtual assistants can be used with smartphones, tablets, computers and smart devices, including speakers, TVs, lightbulbs, thermostats, surveillance cameras and more. While Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Cortana, Bixby and others are designed to make your life easier, it helps to know everything they can do.
Apple’s AI wall tablet: They’re getting into the smart-home controls business to compete with Amazon, Crestron and Google. Using Apple’s AI tablet, you’ll be able to control your locks, lights, sprinklers, speakers and other appliances. Audio and video intercoms are included, too. ETA? March 2025 at the earliest.
43.5 hours weekly
The time the average American home spends watching broadcast TV, traditional TV and streaming video. Half of that video viewing is done on a TV screen; the rest is split between phones, tablets and computers. These numbers don’t include videos on social media platforms, like TikTok, Instagram Reels and whatever videos on Facebook are called … We can probably double or triple the phone-viewing hours, then, right?
7 things you should never throw away (or you could be in legal trouble)
By now, we all know how to separate trash from recyclables.
But what about the other things we no longer need? The answer is no if you’re holding an old bottle of medication. Tap or click here to check if any of your meds have been recalled.
3 smartphone tech tips everyone over 50 must know
Embracing the digital age can improve your life, both personally and professionally. But it can be hard to keep up with the crowd if you didn’t grow up with high-tech gadgets like smartphones or tablets. That’s why we’re sharing a few tech skills all folks over 50 should know.
Finally, a full-color Kindle: Amazon’s new Kindle Colorsoft is easy on the eyes like the classic models but way better for reading colorful comics and magazines. It lasts up to eight weeks on a single charge, and it’s wireless-charging-compatible and waterproof. Preorder one for $280 and Oct. 30 shipping. Pro tip: Trade your old Kindle back to Amazon for 20% off your upgrade.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Amazon’s new lineup of Fire HD 8 tablets: They’ve got double the RAM of the previous models, a 5 MP rear cam, an 8-inch HD display, up to 13 hours of battery life, plus an AI webpage summary tool and a writing assistant. Good time to buy, too: The Fire HD 8 is 35% off right now, and the Fire HD 8 Kids and Fire HD 8 Kids Pro are both 50% off.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
💲 One man’s trash: Microsoft’s Trade-in Program turns old gadgets into green. Head to its site, pick what you’ve got (laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, whatever), and receive up to $500. Amazon has the same program, so check to see which offers you more moolah.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
How to get the most money selling your old cellphone
When you upgrade your smartphone, don’t throw the old one in a drawer. With the right site, you can turn your dusty old electronics into a source of income.
In this tip, we’ll answer some of the most common questions people have when selling old devices. Plus, we’ll introduce you to a valuable new site to help you make money.
How to find and delete large files on your devices
Many things can make your devices, whether they be phones, tablets, or computers, start to run slower. One of these things is having lots of large files.
It takes memory to store big files, and power. You can do a few things to improve the battery power of an electronic device — tap or click here to extend your battery life.
True or false: It's illegal to talk to your phone's smart assistant while driving
Smart assistants can be used with smartphones, tablets, computers and smart devices to make life easier. You can turn the lights on, set a reminder to get the groceries, recommend a restaurant, play your favorite music and set the mood to watch a movie. The possibilities are truly endless.
10 things (aside from gas) that will get more expensive during the Russian-Ukrainian war
Millions worldwide looked on in horror as Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, the most significant attack in Europe since World War II. The invasion has continued to grow, and there is no clear answer on how long the war will continue. Tap or click here to secure your tech and prepare for cyberattacks.
The world complains about these consoles, mobiles and laptops the most
They say the cream always rises to the top. On the opposite side, the scum sinks to the bottom. For every beloved Apple and Android product, there’s an equally-loathed item that users vent about on social media.
Electronics Hub wanted to see which devices people complain about the most. Its team created a complaint detection tool that analyzed thousands of tweets that mentioned popular tech products. They used Twitter because it’s usually the No. 1 place people go to when they want to scream into the social media void.
Review: This dock turns your iPad into a desktop computer - sort of
As new tablets continue adding features commonly found on traditional computers, you might wonder if you even need that laptop anymore. That depends.
When it comes to portability and overall convenience, you can get by with a tablet — especially since many also let you connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. For power users who prefer a desktop computer over a laptop anyway, then there’s probably not a tablet that’s going to cut it.
CES 2022: What you can buy now and all the best announcements
New year, new tech. “New” is a relevant term in the tech world, and there’s always something on the horizon, no matter how incremental the update may be.
You’re probably playing with the toys you got over the holidays. While you’re at it, you may want to take a new approach towards tech for the new year. Take care of your old devices, keep your new ones updated and get rid of some annoying distractions. Tap or click here for more on these simple tech resolutions.
10 tips and tricks for your new iPad
The holiday season has passed, and it’s time to play with your new toys. Tech products are always a popular gift under the Christmas tree, and you’re spoiled for choice between phones, tablets, smart speakers, laptops and more obscure items like smart temperature-controlled coffee mugs.
Top ways to make the most money selling your tech
Remember the day you first got your laptop or smartphone? The package was pristine, the machine shiny, and there was that excitement of getting to experience all the cool features your new device had to offer.
The chances are that feeling faded in time, and you couldn’t wait to run out and buy the latest and greatest device. But that can get expensive unless you stick with budget phones. Tap or click here for a list of the best budget phones on the market.
This app makes it easy to get all the local and national news you want to see
There are tons of different options to get your breaking and local news. Most smartphones or tablets come loaded with a news app, and you have plenty of third-party choices, too.
As with all apps, not all news apps are created equal. Some can be glitchy or slow to update with breaking news, while others focus too heavily on partisan politics or regional news stories. Looking for some great apps to download? Try these must-have apps you’ll use again and again.